Free market round up, November 29, 2017

Statewide 38 farms share $908,259 in state renewable energy and energy efficiency grants mostly for solar energy projects. In all the projects will save $200,000 per year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 660 tons annually.

The project Belridge Solar, will generate solar thermal energy to make 12 million barrels of steam per year along with 26.5 MWe photovoltaic facility. The steam will be used in a secondary extraction technique for recovering heavy oil. Using solar to make steam means not using natural gas for the purpose and saves money and pollution.

“RALEIGH, N.C. — For electric car drivers, filling up isn’t as easy as stopping at a gas station, but a growing network of electric car charging stations in North Carolina is expanding the driving range for those battery powered cars.

Car company Tesla recently installed a bank of their Superchargers behind the Target at North Hills. Kristi Brodd, with nonprofit Plug-in NC, said additional chargers help drivers plan where they can get more juice.”